Bangladesh says Saudi Arabia has not answered queries over execution of two nationals

Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia had not responded to Dhaka's inquiries about the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals. The ministry also said the executions were carried out without Bangladeshi authorities being notified beforehand. Both Reuters and Daily Sabah reported the ministry's statements.

According to Reuters, the ministry's position was given by its spokesperson, Shahidul Karim.

What Bangladesh is asking for

According to Daily Sabah, Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, said the executions took place on 14 October. She said Dhaka has requested copies of the court verdicts and details of the offenses. It has also asked why its diplomatic mission was not informed.

The state minister said the government would decide on next steps after it receives the case details and documents and discusses the matter with Saudi authorities, according to Daily Sabah.

The Saudi statement

Daily Sabah, citing Saudi media, reported that Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said a man and a woman were executed after being convicted of committing "indecent acts" inside a mosque in Mecca. Daily Sabah presents this in the context of the Bangladeshi case. However, its report does not explicitly state that the two people in the Saudi statement are the two Bangladeshi nationals.

The Saudi embassy in Dhaka did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Daily Sabah.

Context

Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh's largest overseas labor market, according to Daily Sabah. An estimated 3.5 million Bangladeshi workers live there.

What each side says

• Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry (spokesperson Shahidul Karim, according to Reuters): Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to Dhaka's queries. The executions were carried out without notifying Bangladeshi authorities.
• State Minister Shama Obaed Islam (according to Daily Sabah): Dhaka has sought clarification on the circumstances of the 14 October executions. It wants the verdicts, details of the offenses and an explanation of why its mission was not informed. Next steps will follow once documents are received and talks are held with Saudi authorities.
• Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry (as reported by Saudi media, according to Daily Sabah): A man and a woman were executed after being convicted of committing "indecent acts" inside a mosque in Mecca.

What remains unclear

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any direct response from the Saudi government to Bangladesh's inquiries. They do not identify the two executed Bangladeshi nationals. They do not describe the charges, the court proceedings or the verdicts in detail. They do not say whether Saudi Arabia was obliged to notify Bangladesh's mission before the executions. The Saudi Interior Ministry statement is relayed through Saudi media and is not quoted directly in full.

The reports from Reuters and Daily Sabah both relay statements from the same party, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry.

Analysis

The case touches a sensitive link between the two countries, given the large number of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia. Much depends on whether Riyadh responds and what documents it shares. If Saudi Arabia provides the verdicts and case details, the matter could be handled through routine diplomatic channels. If no response comes, Dhaka may face pressure at home to press further, though the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any specific steps under consideration. Key questions remain open, including the identities of those executed and whether any notification obligation applied. These points are not settled by the available reporting.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.